« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Spambots  (Read 4088 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline iago

  • Leader
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17914
  • Fnord.
    • View Profile
    • SkullSecurity
Spambots
« on: November 16, 2008, 08:49:23 am »
Lately, we've been getting several registrations/day from spambots. We already had "require approval" enabled, so they haven't gotten through, but it also means that it's difficult to tell real people from bots. So, if you know somebody who's legitimately registering, either send me a PM or post on the forum or get them to email me or something.
Logged

Offline Skywing

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 139
    • View Profile
    • Nynaeve
Re: Spambots
« Reply #1 on: November 17, 2008, 03:19:27 pm »
Can you just enable email validation instead of require approval, or are they actually wiring up enough logic to follow the activation links in the validation emails now?
Logged

Offline iago

  • Leader
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17914
  • Fnord.
    • View Profile
    • SkullSecurity
Re: Spambots
« Reply #2 on: November 17, 2008, 03:38:48 pm »
I've seen software that can follow the activation links, so it might. It'd definitely solving the most difficult CAPTCHA that a human can read (I tried the "hard" CAPTCHA but couldn't solve it), so I assume it's at least a decent bot. I'd rather not clean up spam. :)
Logged

Offline Newby

  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10877
  • Thrash!
    • View Profile
Re: Spambots
« Reply #3 on: November 17, 2008, 04:47:01 pm »
We should write some sort of delayed activation. Randomly between 1 and 5 minutes after you register, it'll activate your account. Bots won't know how long to wait around, and I doubt they'd come back.
Logged
- Newby
http://www.x86labs.org

Quote
[17:32:45] * xar sets mode: -oooooooooo algorithm ban chris cipher newby stdio TehUser tnarongi|away vursed warz
[17:32:54] * xar sets mode: +o newby
[17:32:58] <xar> new rule
[17:33:02] <xar> me and newby rule all

Quote from: Rule on June 30, 2008, 01:13:20 pm
Quote from: CrAz3D on June 30, 2008, 10:38:22 am
I'd bet that you're currently bloated like a water ballon on a hot summer's day.

That analogy doesn't even make sense.  Why would a water balloon be especially bloated on a hot summer's day? For your sake, I hope there wasn't too much logic testing on your LSAT. 

Offline Camel

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1703
    • View Profile
    • BNU Bot
Re: Spambots
« Reply #4 on: November 17, 2008, 04:48:32 pm »
Years ago, I solved a problem like this by modifying the captcha to add moderately thick black bars over the letters. You certainly will have results that are not human readable with that approach, but most of them will be.
Logged

<Camel> i said what what
<Blaze> in the butt
<Camel> you want to do it in my butt?
<Blaze> in my butt
<Camel> let's do it in the butt
<Blaze> Okay!

Offline iago

  • Leader
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17914
  • Fnord.
    • View Profile
    • SkullSecurity
Re: Spambots
« Reply #5 on: November 17, 2008, 07:05:55 pm »
I'm not too worried about "fixing" it, since it isn't really a problem. I've taken a couple steps to make sure we don't turn down real people, so everything should be fine.
Logged

Offline iago

  • Leader
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17914
  • Fnord.
    • View Profile
    • SkullSecurity
Re: Spambots
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2008, 05:14:09 pm »
Heh, latest one signed up with:
     bsr.bot@gmail.com

At least he's being honest. :)
Logged

Offline Sidoh

  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17634
  • MHNATY ~~~~~
    • View Profile
    • sidoh
Re: Spambots
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2008, 06:01:23 pm »
Hahaha.  We should let him post just for that. :)
Logged

Offline Lead

  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 635
  • Shaman of Sexy.
    • View Profile
Re: Spambots
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2008, 07:02:00 am »
If I'm not mistaken there's some kind of Meta Tags you can use to stop them from registering(?).
Logged


Quote
Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson

Offline Sidoh

  • x86
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17634
  • MHNATY ~~~~~
    • View Profile
    • sidoh
Re: Spambots
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2008, 12:34:46 pm »
Quote from: Lead on November 20, 2008, 07:02:00 am
If I'm not mistaken there's some kind of Meta Tags you can use to stop them from registering(?).

Yeah, maybe if they give a shit what you tell them to do.  Spam bots rarely care about that, though. ;P
Logged

Offline Camel

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1703
    • View Profile
    • BNU Bot
Re: Spambots
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2008, 01:17:22 pm »
I read something about a proposed enhancement to SMTP, whereby emails that are not digitally signed with a legally binding contract that says "this is not spam," the MX rejects the message. Too bad it could never work :(
Logged

<Camel> i said what what
<Blaze> in the butt
<Camel> you want to do it in my butt?
<Blaze> in my butt
<Camel> let's do it in the butt
<Blaze> Okay!
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »